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Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises was one of the most anticipated films of 2012, concluding his critically acclaimed Batman trilogy. While it achieved significant box office success and received positive reviews from critics, it also faced considerable backlash from fans.
The film, which follows the story of Bruce Wayne's return as Batman to save Gotham from new threats, was seen as a grand finale, but not everyone was satisfied with how it played out.
Despite the film's ambitious scope and impressive visual storytelling, numerous aspects left fans disappointed. From plot holes and character inconsistencies to pacing issues and underwhelming conclusions, The Dark Knight Rises had its fair share of criticisms.
Disclaimer: This article represents the author's point of view and contains spoilers from the series. Reader's discretion is advised.
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Exploring 10 reasons why fans hate The Dark Knight Rises
1) Plot holes and inconsistencies
The movie had several plot holes and inconsistencies which were quickly pointed out by fans of the franchise. Many asked how Bruce Wayne managed to get back to Gotham having been in a remote prison without any resources or what was behind the ticking time frame of a bomb among others.
The bomb, set to explode and bring catastrophic destruction to Gotham, has a ticking timeline that seems to fluctuate without clear reasoning. Throughout the movie, the time until detonation is referenced multiple times, but the countdown appears to extend or compress conveniently to fit the narrative's needs, rather than adhering to a realistic or consistent timeline.
2) Bane’s incoherent dialogue
Bane played by Tom Hardy turned out to be a physically imposing villain remembered by viewers for a long time. Nevertheless, his muffled speech frequently became unbearable because he constantly wore a face mask; this did not allow spectators to catch fully all his words making them seem less threatening.
3) Underwhelming character arcs
Numerous characters’ arcs appeared feeble or dissatisfying in the picture. Miranda Tate being shown as Talia al Ghul came across as rushed while her motivations remained inadequately explored. Additionally, some viewers felt that John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) had an unnecessary story angle forced upon him.
4) Bruce Wayne’s quick recovery
Many people thought that Bruce Wayne’s rapid healing from such serious injury such as a paralyzed spine happened unrealistically. Even though the film belonged to a superhero universe, this kind of healing was too extraordinary even for fans.
5) Anticlimactic ending
The ending of The Dark Knight Rises where Bruce Wayne survived a nuclear explosion seemed convenient and lacked the dramatic weight and realism that Nolan had built over the previous films. This twist left many fans feeling cheated out of a more poignant conclusion.
6) Lack of Batman screen time
Fans were not happy with how little Bruce Wayne, who is also known as Batman, appeared on screen in that movie. The entire movie was mostly about Bruce Wayne’s life beyond being Batman which definitely left those who love action scenes yearning for more of the Dark Knight.
7) Pacing issues
Some parts in The Dark Knight Rises are dragged on unnecessarily for too long while others felt rushed; hence, the film’s pacing faced much criticism. The first act especially was quite sluggish as it took too long to establish Gotham’s new status quo.
8) Underutilized supporting characters
Key supporting characters in The Dark Knight Rises like Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) and Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) were considered underutilized characters in the movie. Alfred suddenly leaving Bruce’s life seemed out of character and caused a hole in the story that needed to be filled up.
9) Overly complex plot
Some believed that the storyline involving numerous subplots such as the Occupy Wall Street-inspired uprising, Talia’s revenge, and Bane’s master plan were overly complex and convoluted thus making it hard for some viewers to follow or understand its main narrative thread.
10) High expectations
Coming off the critically acclaimed The Dark Knight, expectations for The Dark Knight Rises were sky-high. Many fans felt that the film simply couldn’t live up to its predecessor’s brilliance, leading to inevitable disappointment.
A user review of the movie on IMDb read,
"I came out with slight disappointment after watching DKR for I had huge expectations from Nolan after an exceptional TDK. I am huge fan of first two installment of Batman Trilogy. I liked DKR, it's a good movie, but it could have been much better."
While The Dark Knight Rises has its defenders and remains a significant part of Nolan's Batman trilogy, these ten points highlight some of the major criticisms that have led to mixed reactions among the franchise's fanbase.
